Dawn broke with bluebird skies over CairnGorm Mountain, quite a few people simply looked at the Loch Morlich webcam this morning and whatever was planned, they got in the cars and headed to the 'Gorm! So sorry if you were taking a sickie and found your way into any of these photos!

There's been around 18 inches of new snow since the weekend on the upper part of the mountain and around a foot lower down. Some of this has fallen on bare and warmer ground, so there isn't uniformly a foot lower down, but it is now possible to ride the Carpark Runs back to the Base Station via Burnside - though a bit of care is required as the cover is thin and baseless below mid-station.

The lower White Lady approach to the lifts is also improved and the Gunbarrel was great with the fresh snow well pisted and still pretty flat. The White Lady is generally excellent and wide with all approaches good. Above the top of the Gunbarrel though that it turns into a different world, from here up snow has been gradually accumulating all April and upper mountain snow pack is the deepest of the season with superb machine packed powder conditions on the groomers and lots of moderate off-piste available of the Top Tows.

Coronation Wall was seeing action with various lines possible, from fairly mellow shortcuts of the Traverse to heading much further out. Beware cornice is building above the Headwall and Fiacaill a' Choire Chais - think about the avalanche risk beyond the officially open in-bounds terrain. There is also some sweet wind packed snow in the Cas Boulderfield and between the Traverse and 105.

Top to Daylodge riding at the end of April approaching the May Day holiday weekend, with more snow forecast.... no gardening, no golf... Ski / Board while you can! Glencoe also open daily through Monday 2nd May, Lecht planning to reopen too.